The Miiyupimatisiiun Research Data Archives Project: putting OCAP® principles into practice
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-11-2021-0099 |
| Published date | 07 April 2022 |
| Date | 07 April 2022 |
| Pages | 508-520 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
| Author | Naomi Adelson,Samuel Mickelson |
The Miiyupimatisiiun Research
Data Archives Project: putting
OCAP
V
R
principles into practice
Naomi Adelson
Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, and
Samuel Mickelson
Department of History, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Abstract
Purpose –The aim of this paper is to document the operationalization of the OCAP
V
R
principles in the
context of the work of a medicalanthropologist and Whapmagoostui First Nation (FN).The authors describe
their recent collaboration withWhapmagoostui FN to digitize and transfer the research data archiveto the
community.
Design/methodology/approach –Beginning with a descriptionof the data collection process from the
late 1980s to early 1990s, this study describes recent efforts to digitize the research data archive and work
with Whapmagoostui FN to develop a plan for access and safekeeping. The authors focus on the work
required to implement the OCAP
V
R
principles locally, including the needto address questions of ownership
rights/transfer,information technology systems and communitycapacity.
Findings –This study describesthe necessary work that is required to operationalize the OCAP
V
R
principles
on a local level, including obstacles to this work. This study also underscores how the process of OCAP
V
R
implementation is distinct for each community and research context. Based on these considerations, the
authors calls for increased resources and new legal mechanisms in support of achieving indigenous data
sovereignty(IDSov) in FNs, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’knowledge, this study makes an original contribution to
the literatureon IDSov. This study provides a valuable case study, illustrating how the OCAP
V
R
principlescan
be operationalized in the context of a longstanding partnership between an academic researcher and an
indigenouscommunity.
Keywords CARE principles, Digitization, Digital archives, Digital preservation,
Indigenous archives, Indigenous data sovereignty, OCAP
V
R
principles, Post-custodialism
Paper type Case study
Introduction
This paper is about the Miiyupimatisiiun Research Data Archives Project (MRDAP) and its
place within the broader global movement for indigenous data sovereignty (IDSov).
Bolstered by landmark policy documents such as the United Nations Declaration on the
The authors thank the Whapmagoostui First Nation, former Chief Louisa Wynne and Information
and Communication Officer Joshua J Kawapit, for their support of Adelson’s research and their
commitment to this digitization and data transfer initiative. The authors also thank the Ryerson
University Library Collaboratory for its steadfast support of this demonstration of data management
and, in particular, Alison Skyrme and Curtis Sassur at Ryerson University Archives and Special
Collections for their assistance to this project. This project has been supported by Ryerson
University. Adelson’s original research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council (Canada).
DLP
38,4
508
Received26 November 2021
Revised4 February 2022
Accepted5 March 2022
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.38 No. 4, 2022
pp. 508-520
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-11-2021-0099
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